What is a piston caliper?
1 Answers
Piston calipers are the braking components that clamp the brake pads to achieve the braking effect when the brake pedal is pressed. The more pistons a car caliper has, the greater, more stable, and smoother the braking force. They can be identified by their appearance, as there are several circular protrusions on the caliper, which are the pistons. The pistons on the caliper are symmetrically arranged on both sides, which not only increases the braking force but also ensures even distribution of the force. Therefore, when counting the pistons, you only need to count one side (symmetrically), and the total number of pistons is the number of protrusions multiplied by two. As for the meaning of two, four, six, or eight-piston calipers, it simply refers to the number of hydraulic pistons in use in the brake caliper. Theoretically, the more pistons a brake caliper has, the greater the braking force it can generate. However, it's essential to consider whether the master cylinder's output matches the caliper. Otherwise, adding more pistons would be superfluous. Even with sufficient output, excessive braking force might cause the tires to lock up. Therefore, it's crucial to do thorough research before modifications to determine if the car is truly suitable for adding pistons.